Electromedical exercising apparatus.



J. KATZ.

ELEGTROMEDIOAL EXEROISING APPARATUS. APPLICATION IILIID 311115, 1913.

1,088,780. Patented Mar. 3, 1914.

GEORGE J. KATZ, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTROMEDIC'AL EXERCISING APPARATUS.

Application filed July 5, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnouon J. KA'rz, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State ofIllinois, have invented certain. new and useful Improvements inElectromedical Exercising Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification.

The main objects of this invention are, to render certain forms ofexercising apparatus more efficient; to provide a self-containedexercising apparatus having an electrical device and contacts adaptedfor delivering electric current of suitable character to the user; toprovide a dumb-bell, containing a battery, induction coil and terminalsadapted for contact with the hand of the user for delivering alternatingelectric current when in use; and to provide an apparatus of thecharacter described having a switch adapted and arranged to remainnormally open when not in use, but to be readily closable by the hand ofthe operator in gripping the handle while exercising.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is a longitudinal axial section of a dumb-bell, showing abattery in one end and an induction coil in the opposite end. Fig. 2 isan end elevation partly in section of the end. Fig. 3 is an endelevation of the end containing the induction coil with the end capremoved. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the electrical circuit. Fig. 5 is across section of the induction coil on the line A A of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 isa cross section of the handle on the line BB at the switch. Fig. 7 is aplan view of the switch plate.

In the construction shown, the dumb-bell is formed substantially in theusual general shape with a pair of heads 1 and 2 connect ed by a handleor grip 3. The heads and handle are of hollow construction and comprisea rigid and substantially integral frame, consisting of a pair ofcup-shaped end members 4 arranged with their concave faces turnedoutwardly and a hollow cylindrical coiinecting member 5 extendingthrough the handle and having the end members 4 connected permanentlythereto as by soldering. In connection with each cup 4: there isprovided a complementary cup-shaped member or cap 6 having its concaveface turned inward and having an edge adapted to fit the edge ofthecorresponding Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 3, 1914:.

Serial No. 777,562.

end member 1 as at 7. The caps 6 may be secured by any convenientdetachable means, a pan of clamping studs 8 being preferred for eachcap, said studs being interiorly threaded at; their ends and suitablescrews 9 being provided therefor, and the complementary head members tand 6 being perforated to receive said screws.

The handle 3 is provided with an insulat- 1ng sleeve 10 inclosing thecylinder On one end of the sleeve 10 is provided an insulated ring 12covering somewhat less than half the length of the sleeve 10. The ring12 is secured by a screw 13 fitting in a perforation therein and driveninto and through an insulating block 15, the frame cylinder 5 and sleeve10 being perforated in registry to hold said block. On the opposite endof the sleeve 10 is mounted a resilient, yieldable, metallic plate 17 ofsubstantially the same length as the said ring, and spaced aparttherefrom. The plate 17 is curved to fit the sleeve 10 but is setnormally to stand apart slightly therefrom except at the outer end 19where it is held by screws 21. The end 19 is formed narrow andsubstantially flat so as to yield readily for closing the switch whenpressed by the hand in gripping the handle. A block of insulation 23within the cylinder 5 is engaged by the screws 21 and is pierced by oneof them. The cylinder 5 is perforated for the screws 21 but is insulatedtherefrom.

The sleeve 10 is perforated at 24: to receive an inwardly projectingcontact shoulder or tongue 25 struck up from the inner portion of theplate 17, said tongue serving as a switch contact for electricalconnection between plate 17 and the frame cylinder 5.

A mounting plate 27 formed of suitable insulating material is carriedtransversely of the main axis in the head 2, and. is supported rigidlyon the clamping studs 8. On the plate 27 is mounted an induction coil29, interrupter 31 and a group of suitable terminal posts. The inductioncoil comprises a hollow spool 33, a magnetic core 34 within the spooland a pair of coils, primary 35 and secondary 36, upon saidspool. Thespool comprises a cylindrical body 37 formed preferably of suitablenon-magnetic and non-conducting material, and a pair of insulating heads38. The ends of the secondary coil 36 are connected by conductors 39 and39.1 to the terminal posts 40 and 41. The primary coil 35 has one endconnected by conductor 42 to the interrupter post 43 which carries the.contact spring 4.45 on which the magnetic armature 45 is secured. Aterminal post 46 is connected by conductor 4L7 to the back contact postl8 which is provided with an adjustable con.- tact screw 49, againstwhich the spring lt bears when the armature 45 is released, The otherend of the primary coil is connected by conductor 50 to the terminal Pot The induction coil core 8st is held rigidly at the inner or vibratorend within the cylindrical body 37 by means of a short bushing 53 fittedclosely upon the end of the core. and also fitting closely within theend of the spool. The opposite end and intermediate portion of the coreis surrounded by an open space which is at times occupied by acylindrical damping member 55 which fits closely but slidably upon thecore 8th. The damping cylinder 55 is formed of thin metal, preferablybrass, and in the form shown is open at the inner end for receiving thecore 84, and closed at its opposite outwardly projecting end, which isprovided with a knurled handle 57 adapted to facilitate holding forsliding in and out by hand. The spool body 37 may be of any suflicientlyrigid material as for instance very thin metal- A perforation 58 isprovided in the head 2,, in which the damper fits loosely, the outer endof the latter being readily accessible for longitudinal adjustment,according to the strength of current desired in the secondary coil, thestrength being increased by drawing the damper outward. If desired thedamper may be entirely withdrawn and removed giving full maximumstrength.

Current for the primary coil is provided for by one-0r m re cells 9,preferably of .dry battery, housed in the head 1 where in case two cellsare used, they are held in place on opposite sides of the studs 8 bysuitable means such as a metal strap or wire til suitably held, as bysoldering its ends to the inner face of the adjacent cup member 4E. atpoints 62 and 6,3. The cells 59 are connected in series by conductor 65.One terminal 66 of the battery is connected by conductor 67 to the tipof the long screw 21 and the other terminal 69 is connected by conductor7 O to terminal post 46. The post 41 is connected by conductor 71'to thetip or screw 13. Posts 40 and 5 1 are connected by a jumper 73. The post40 is connected by a conductor 7 5 to the cup member l of the head 2,where soldered as at 76,

Referring to the diagram of circuit connections i ustrated, in ig- 4 iwi l b see that P im follows Beeissms y Circuit is. pro i ed. a

69 the circuit leads to thejbacli contact 49 nected to the terminal 66at the opposite side of the battery, thus completing the primarycircuit.

The secondary circuit is normally open and is closed only through thehand of the user, said circuit being as follows: Beginning at the innerend of the secondary Winding 29 the circuit leads to the post 40, thenceto the head 2 which is electrically connected to the correspondingopposite head 1 and to the handle frame member 5, the latter being alsoelectrically connected to the hand switch plate 17 when the switch isclosed; and from any one of these three points, namely the two heads 1and 2 and the switch plate 1.7, the circuit is closed through the handof the user to the insulated ring 12, which is electrically connected tothe opposite end of the secondary winding. By gripping the handle of thedumb-bell in the usual and ordinary way, the pressure of the hand closesthe switch 17 and starts the vibrator. This causes alternatingelectromotive force to be developed in the secondary coil, the circuitfor which is closed through the hand of the operator which grips theinsulated ring 12 and switch plate 17 and incidentally may bear uponeither or bot-h of the heads l and 2.

The alternating current delivered to the hand stimulates the nervesagreeably and promotes muscular activity thus giving zest to theexercise and increasing the eiiicacy of the treatment. Exercise ispreferably begun with a weak currentand the strength may be increased bygradually withdrawing the damper as the user becomes accustomed to thestimulating effect of the current. The strength may be adjusted to suitthe needs of different persons.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention is herein shown,it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shownmay be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of thisinvention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a hollow head comprising a pairof complementary concave wall members adapted to fit together closely attheir abutting edges in combination with a plurality of clamping studsadapted and arranged to secure said wall members together, and amounting plate supported rigidly'by said studjs, substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

2 A dumb bell, comprising a pair of br ad lQllQ heads an a rebate 1connecting said heads, said hantUe'ha-iiifig a switch plate operatableby gripping the handle, and electrodes comprising said switch platearranged on the hancle for contact with the hand, in combination with abattery and an induction coil housed transversely in said headsrespectively, said induction coil having an adjustable damper and aninterrupter, said electrodes, battery, induction coil, and interrupterbeing arranged and connected for closure of the primary circuit by saidswitch plate and for closure of the secondary circuit through the handof the user when the handle is gripped.

3. A dumb bell having a broad head fiattened in a plane transverse tothe main axis, a mounting plate secured transversely within said head,an induction coil mounted on said plate, an interrupter also mounted onsaid plate adapted and arranged for interrupting the primary circuit,and a damper for the induction coil adapted and arranged for increasingand adjusting the electromotive force of the secondary coil by partialor complete removal from the induction coil.

4. In an electro-medical exercising device,

a handle member, a hollow head carried by said handle member andcomprising a pair of mutually separable complementary con: cave wallmembers adapted to fit together at their adjoining edges, one of saidwall members being permanently secured to said handle member, incombination with a plurality of interiorly disposed studs arrangedtransversely of said wall members and adapted to secure them to ether,inductive apparatus carried by said studs, combined switch and electrodemembers carried exteriorly by said handle adapted for manuallycontrolling said inductive apparatus and for delivering current to thehand of the user when the handle is gripped, and a source of currentalso carried by said device and electrically connected for operat ingsaid inductive apparatus when the switch is closed.

Signed at Chicago, this 3rd day of July, 1913.

GEORGE J. KATZ.

Witnesses:

EDWARD A. BIGGS, JEAN RIGNEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Intent. Washington, D. C.

